Matthew Anderson writes about the culture wars and the future of evangelical witness. The whole thing is a good read, but there are some nuggets in here worth highlighting. On marriage amendments, he writes,

The overwhelming passage of traditional marriage amendments are not signs of our society’s health, but its disease–and we are all implicated in it.

Anderson goes on to show that calls to get beyond the culture wars really miss the point. I think Anderson nails it in this paragraph. Continue Reading →

Michael Gerson takes on President Obama’s proclivity for invoking Jesus in support of liberal public policies. Pay special attention to the last line. Gerson writes:

Agree or disagree with the policies Obama recommends, his arguments can’t be called sophisticated. They are the liberal political application of a “What Would Jesus Do?” wristband. In a mirror reflection of the religious right, Obama has a tendency to engage in partisan proof texting — which is divisive in service to any ideology. Saying “I would just refer them to the Sermon on the Mount” is a claim of divine authority that short-circuits democratic debate. Even when Obama changes his political views, Jesus somehow comes around to agreeing with him.

Read the rest here.

Tony Dungy tweeted a short word about his take on President Obama’s gay marriage announcement (HT). Dungy writes:

I was disappointed he veered from biblical view.

In 2007, Dungy spoke out publicly in favor of an amendment to the Indiana state constitution that would define marriage as between one man and one woman. He took some criticism for this, but he explained that his feelings on the matter grew directly out of his Christian convictions. In his own words:

We’re not trying to downgrade anyone else. But we’re trying to promote the family — family values the Lord’s way.

Elsewhere, Dungy says this:

Family is important, and that’s what we’re trying to support. We’re not anti-anything else and not trying to hate anyone else. We’re trying to promote the family, family values, the Lord’s way. Just like I’m trying to win on the football field the Lord’s way. I’m on the Lord’s side when I’m on the field, and on the Lord’s side when I’m off the field.

From Politico.com:

It’s been one of the swiftest shifts in ideology and strategy for Republicans, as they’ve come nearly full circle on same-sex politics. What was once a front-and-center issue for rank-and-file Republicans — the subject of many hotly worded House and Senate floor speeches — is virtually a dead issue, as Republicans in Congress don’t care to have gay marriage litigated in the Capitol.

Even more than that, Republican leadership has evolved, too. It has quietly worked behind the scenes to kill amendments that reaffirm opposition to same-sex unions, several sources told POLITICO.

It’s not like the GOP has become a bastion of progressiveness on gay rights, but there has been an evolution in the political approach — and an acknowledgment of a cultural shift in the country. Same-sex relationships are more prominent and accepted. There are more gay public figures — including politicians — and it’s likely that many Washington Republicans have gay friends and coworkers. Just as important — there’s also a libertarian streak of acceptance on people’s sexuality coursing through the House Republican Conference.

For those paying attention, none of this is surprising. While social conservatives have been gaining ground in the pro-life cause, they have been losing ground in the sanctity of marriage cause. Public opinion is changing rapidly, and the politicos know it. They are not going to hitch their wagons to a losing issue, and many of them are ditching the cause. What we are finding out is who really believed in marriage in the first place versus those who were simply using it as a wedge issue.

I think this is instructive for Christians on a number of levels. First, we must recognize that the interests of the Kingdom are not coterminous with the interests of any single political party. There are unchristian errors on both the right and left, among both Democrats and Republicans. This will become more apparent as more and more Republicans fold like a cheap nickel knife on the marriage issue.

Second, it’s a reminder to us how countercultural Christianity really is. The kingdoms of men will rise and fall. So also will their political machinations. But the truth of the gospel and of God’s word is the same yesterday, today, and forever. As Christians, we’ve hitched our wagon to this truth. Faithfulness to Christ means standing firm even when our views become the minority position. On this issue, we’re almost there.

I think Chuck Colson nails it. You can listen to his Breakpoint Commentary below:

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Here’s a bit of the transcript: Continue Reading →